The clock definitely says the Oakleigh Plate was the pick of the three Group 1 races at Caulfield on Saturday.
JIMMYSTAR beat standard time by almost 4L when he produced the fastest last 200m of the day to win the Oakleigh Plate (1100m). He was the only winner to make his run wider than lane 5 with 9 of the 10 winners using lanes 2,3,4 and 5.
On a day when 8 of 10 winners sat either first or second in running, his electric finish coming from 10th was something to behold.
However, the key for JIMMYSTAR is to progress at his next start. In the spring we saw something similar first-up before his ratings dipped a tad. Regardless, a rating like this will win him a lot of Group 1 sprints.
MR BRIGHTSIDE was tough but rating-wise only fair in his Futurity Stakes (1400m) victory – his 9th at Group 1 level.
The 2025 edition of the Blue Diamond Stakes won’t go down as one of the greats but TREASURETHE MOMENT announced her picket-fence spring was no fluke and we can expect a mouth-watering clash between her and AELIANA in the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) next month. AELIANA was the first filly home in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) behind BROADSIDING. Both her and runner-up SWIFTFALCON were outstanding. The filly looks a real Coolmore Classic prospect, while the colt screams Doncaster Mile given he’s yet to win a major and will carry the minimum.
On the home front, Proven Thoroughbreds enjoyed success at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday with TAKE A BOW hugging the rail to prevail in a thrilling finish. Our Track Report on race morning suggesting the best option for Justin Stanley was to ride the filly cold and hug the rail, normally a low percentage play. But she burst to the front inside the last 100m winning the BM65 3YO event clocking the 1.11:52, the second fastest of 5 x 1200m races on the day. She also clocked the fastest last 200m of the day. Clearly she has scope to graduate to metropolitan company.
Going back to last Wednesday and we had FORTUNEER resume in a fast 1110m race at Doomben. PARTY SPIRIT’s winning time of 1.03:48 is 6L above standard. FORTUNEER’s time would’ve won plenty of races at this level, she struck a good race here. Don’t drop off her.
Punters snipped away at the $21 on offer for IMA CAPRI, who was on debut for Joe Pride at Hawkesbury last Thursday. He started $12 and ran well to finish third but the race rated poorly – some 13L below standard.
ICONIC TREASURE resumed at Canterbury on Friday over 1100m. He settled last in a slowly run race making it tough for him to figure. His last 600m ranked 5th for the meeting and this lays a lovely platform for him to progress off. A similar race next start over a touch further should see him go close.
On the same day, down at Moonee Valley, stable stalwart STOCKMAN resumed over 2500m in the Listed Torney Cup. Off a fast tempo he couldn’t get within 4L of standard time and his late splits weren’t that strong but he did strike a very firm surface. He will strip fitter as he prepares for a jumps campaign.
A trio of horses for us at Doomben on Saturday started with TOWN CRIER’s victory in the 1100m BM70. A smart ride from Luke Dempsey saw the four-year-old settle on pace in a race where they went through the first 500m almost 6L below standard. Its worth nothing Dempsey has struck at 17 per cent from his last 100 rides and is exceeding market expectations by 67% during that time. TOWN CRIER deserves plenty of credit himself, producing the 3rd fastest last 600m of the day and looks set for a good prep.
SHOT OF WHISKEY was unplaced in the BM78 over 1200m with his last 200m 2L below benchmark indicating a step back in trip could suit.
NAVAL TRADER loves a fast tempo and almost did enough to win the Class 6 1350m contest when 2nd to RED DEFCON. Perhaps with a run under the belt he can pinch a race like this but his ratings suggest he’s come back at least as good as he’s ever been.
Down at Rosehill we had THE BLACK CLOUD get stuck three wide in the BM94 1100m race won by TIME TO BOOGIE. It was the fastest of 3 x 1100m races on the day and the worst to be caught without cover. As she wilted to finish 6th, stablemate COSMONOVA just nabbed her to finish 5th. She came from well back in a race won by the leader and her 400m to 200m split was the best of the race.
While all this was unfolding in-form mare HEYOKA shot for the hattrick at the Gold Coast. She had to settle for 3rd but wasn’t disgraced just 0.5L off the winner with the race clearly the fastest of 3 x 1300m races on the day. She’s going well and might appreciate a slight drop back in trip.
Nic Ashman is a form expert who has developed his own times rating system to assess races. He is the host of The Beaten Favourite podcast and appears on several other racing media outlets.